LULAC Marks Hispanic Heritage Month With a Call to Pride, Purpose and Participation
Nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization celebrates the contributions of 68 million Latinos and reaffirms a mission as vital today as it was in 1929
WASHINGTON, DC — The League of United Latin American Citizens this week opened Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, by celebrating the men and women whose work, service and creativity strengthen the United States and Puerto Rico every day, and by calling on Latinos everywhere to carry that pride into full participation in the civic life of the nation.
"Hispanic Heritage Month is not simply a look back at where we come from. It is a statement of who we are and where this country is going," said LULAC National President and Chairman of the Board, Roman Palomares. "Latinos are not guests in America. We are builders of America. We defend it, feed it, teach it, and grow it. When LULAC was founded in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1929, our founders set out to secure full citizenship rights for Latinos and demonstrate that we belong. Nearly a century later, that mission is unfinished, and it has never been timelier. Our vision of an America of equal opportunity, all-inclusiveness, and respect for every family is the vision that will carry this nation forward."
More than 68 million Latinos live in the United States — one of every five people in the country. Their economic output reached $4.4 trillion in 2024, making the U.S. Latino economy the fourth largest in the world and the fastest-growing among major economies since 2019. Latino-owned businesses open at rates that outpace the national average. Latino workers build the homes, grow the food, staff the hospitals, teach the classrooms and drive the industries on which every American depends.
LULAC CEO Juan Proaño said pride must be matched with action. "Our numbers are extraordinary, but numbers alone do not change policy, protect a family or open a door. Participation does," Proaño said. "This month, we are asking every Latino to do three things: register and vote in the Nov. 3 election, join or start a LULAC council in your community, and mentor one young person toward the education that will define their future. Pride is where we begin. Power is what we build together."
That contribution extends to defending the nation. Latinos have served in every American conflict since the Revolutionary War and have earned more than 60 Medals of Honor. The 3.2 million U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico have sent their sons and daughters to fight under the American flag for more than a century, including the storied 65th Infantry Regiment, the Borinqueneers, honored with the Congressional Gold Medal.
Latino influence is woven into the nation's culture as well in its music and language, its food and faith, its scholarship, athletics, science, and art. From the country's oldest cities to its newest neighborhoods, Latino families have built communities defined by hard work, devotion to family, and an unshakable faith in the American promise.
"For nearly 100 years, LULAC has been the voice of millions of Latinos in classrooms, courtrooms, city halls and the halls of Congress," says Palomares. "That voice grows stronger with every member who joins, every citizen who registers and every family that stands up to be counted," he said.
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About LULAC
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation's oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization. Founded in 1929, LULAC is committed to advancing the rights and opportunities of Latino Americans through advocacy, community building, and education. With a growing network of councils nationwide, LULAC remains steadfast in its mission to protect and empower millions of Latinos, contributing daily to America's prosperity. For more information about LULAC and its initiatives, please visit www.lulac.org/.